Throughout Among The Sleep, the player travels through several varied environments and locations. Each one has specific symbolism pertaining to the story. Each chapter also contains a memory, with which the player uses to progress to the next one.
The Home[]
- (Main Article: Chapter 1: Home)
The first chapter in the game is The Toddler's home. During the day, it is bright and welcoming, and The Mother is present to celebrate the protagonist's second birthday. Teddy is also introduced in this chapter in the form of a gift.
When night falls over the home, the halls turn dark and sinister. The player wakes up in the middle of the night to find that their mother is gone. After finding Teddy in a washing machine, the player is tasked with finding The Mother.
The Stranger, also known as Harald, makes his first appearance in this level, as a harmless jumpscare in the living room. Shortly after this, a hidden door opens from under the stairs, leading to the first memory: the pendant that The Mother wears around her neck.
The Playground[]
- (Main Article: Chapter 2: The Playground)
The playground is the second chapter in the game, taking place underground. It marks the beginning of the dream world that the player navigates. The environment is illuminated by glowing plants, as well as a constant warm aura that surrounds the area.
At the start of the level, the player must navigate a linear path through a small cave. While doing this, the player picks up a toy resembling a baby owl that is blocking a small carousel from moving. This allows the player to progress to a cliff overlooking the playground and the play fort that leads to the next memory.
After going down a slide, the player finds a second owl next to a seesaw, with six empty slots on one end. In order to gain access to the next memory, the player must weigh the seesaw down with six owls, so they can reach the platforms on the tower.
The third owl lies inside of a shed next to a chain fence. When the player grabs it, the door closes and locks itself. Like the chapter before, the warm and soothing atmosphere turns gloomy and menacing. While locked in the shed, a mysterious unseen figure walks up to it and opens the door. It is presumably carrying a large shovel, due to the sounds it makes while walking around.
After collecting the third owl, the entrance to the play area is opened, and the player must navigate through several areas filled with toys and playground appliances while looking for the next three owls. When all six owls are collected, and the tower is climbed, the player comes across the next memory: the music box The Mother plays to lull the child to sleep.
The Forested House[]
- (Main Article: Chapter 3: The Forested House)
The forested house is the third chapter in the game, and is somewhat similar to chapter one, in that the player must sneak through a home at night. This environment symbolizes the crumbling, unstable nature of the child's family.
In the beginning of the level, the child walks through a hallway overgrown with trees and moss. At the end, a door opens to a large room, containing an incomplete jigsaw puzzle covered in a purple cloth. The puzzle rests on a table carved from a tree stump, which connects to roots blocking passage to three separate directions. While investigating the room, Teddy remarks that the next memory may be located behind said roots, and urges the player to move forward.
In order to remove the roots, the child must locate three puzzle pieces and finish the puzzle. The first one is found behind a painting in the same room, and it grants access to the left path.
At the end of the left corridor, a painting rests on the wall. As the player moves closer to it, it changes, eventually dissipating to show a hidden entrance outside.
The left path is short and simple: the player must walk through the woods and into a separate part of the mansion, containing the second puzzle piece, granting access to the right path.
After walking through the right hallway containing another changing painting, the player arrives in a series of forested rooms, containing many pieces of old furniture. To navigate in between rooms, the player must crawl through connected vents, and use furniture to reach and open doors.
To reach one such door, the player is required to climb a stool encased in stone. When the player stands on it and looks out the window, they can see a well. Hyda makes her first appearance here, standing in front of the well.
Inside the well, a triangle-shaped key and the third puzzle piece can be found. The key is used to unlock the fence gate leading further into the forest.
From that point onward, Hyda stalks the child through the forest, appearing seemingly at random. This continues until the player finds a way out of the woods and back into the home, and finishes the jigsaw puzzle.
Completing the puzzle opens up the middle hallway, which has yet another changing painting that opens up to a library filled with trees and bushes. Hyda appears again here, patrolling the rows of shelves and books repeatedly. The child navigates the library while avoiding Hyda, hiding under desks and drawers. Eventually, the player finds the next memory. It is a storybook, branded as the child's favorite. The stories it tells brings the child great comfort.
Into The Closet[]
- (Main Article: Chapter 4: Into The Closet)
The child's closet is the fourth and final chapter of the game, and represents the jumbling together of the many memories associated with the toddler. Heap the coat monster makes several appearances here, stalking the player and preventing them from progressing.
The first segment of this chapter consists of a linear walk through several halls. The player must free an endless drawer to proceed. If the player knocks over and breaks a bottle placed on a shelf, a distant scream can be heard. This foreshadows Heap's hatred of loud sounds.
After climbing onto the drawer, the player will enter a large and dark hallway. A coat appears at the end as a jumpscare, signifying Heap's presence. Soon after, a changing painting similar to the ones seen in the forested house appear here, showing Heap taking a star in a bottle and hiding it on a shelf.
When the player progresses to the next room, they can briefly see Heap's clothed hand retreating into a wall cabinet.